SureFire EarPro Sonic Defenders are designed to prevent a sad truth from happening to you.
And the sad truth is that if you work or play in a noisy environment without proper hearing protection, you’re probably going deaf. Not all at once, mind you, and that’s the kicker. Permanent hearing loss usually comes like a thief in the night, robbing unprotected ears of their vital ability to inform your brain about your surrounding environment. And the consequences of this information loss could be deadly.
Statistically, about 26 million Americans are afflicted with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), suffering irreversible damage either through exposure to constant noise, which is rated at 85 dB or more, or impulse noise — instant shocks to the hearing, rated a 120+ dB. Check out the table below and ask yourself if you’ve been exposed to these noise hazards. Some might surprise you.
Hair blow dryer—90 dB
Lawn mower—90 dB
Carpenter’s nail gun—100 dB
Chainsaw—110 dB
Suppressed .22-caliber rifle—116 dB
Suppressed 9 mm pistol—125 dB
Suppressed .223-caliber rifle—134 dB
Commercial jet takeoff—150 dB
12-gauge shotgun—160 dB
Unsuppressed .223 rifle—165 dB
Yes, repeated exposure to something as commonly used as a hair blow dryer can result in permanent hearing loss, and your chances become exponentially greater with every increase in dB. The damage comes even easier if you choose not to wear ear protection while using a firearm. Without it, you’re blasting your ears with a minimum 100 dB of harmful noise every time you pull the trigger. The concussive energy shocks the ear drum, damaging the cochlea — the tiny
hair-like structures that convert energy into electrical impulses that the brain perceives as sound. You’re hearing can be decimated in no time. And when it’s gone, it’s gone.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. SureFire EarPro® Sonic Defenders® earplugs provide excellent defense against both types of noise by employing the most innovative mechanical hearing protection technology, sparing you the expense and complexity of electronic hearing protection. They also provide superior performance and reusability when compared to the endless cheap and environmentally hazardous disposable foam earplugs on the market. They are a great alternative to full-coverage earmuffs that can limit peripheral vision where maximum situational awareness is crucial.
Constructed of durable, soft hypoallergenic polymer, they provide all-day comfort, making them ideal for extended use. They can also be purchased in three sizes to ensure the ideal fit. Size is determined by measuring the concha bowl of the ear from top to bottom. If the measurement is less than 1 inch, select Small. If it is 1 inch, select Medium. If it is greater than 1 inch, select Large. Medium is the preferred Sonic Defenders size for most customers.
Sonic Defenders are available in two styles, full-block and filtered:
SureFire Full-Block Sonic Defenders® Earplugs
SureFire’s “Full-Block” Sonic Defenders® earplugs (EP5, EP10) help protect your hearing from Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). With their ergonomically correct, curved flange stems, EP5s deliver a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 26 dB, while the Comply® Canal foam tips of the EP10 deliver an astounding 30-dB NRR, These models are ideal for industrial, tactical and everyday applications where maximum protection against continual noise levels is desired and the ability to hear ambient sounds or conversations is not a priority. Their full-block design eliminates the filter, providing maximum protection and all-day comfort, even when worn with a mask, helmet or other supplemental safety equipment.
SureFire Filtered Sonic Defenders® Earplugs
Filtered Sonic Defenders earplugs (EP3, EP4, EP7) help to protect your hearing from Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) via our proprietary filter design, which attenuates dangerous noise while allowing lower-level safe sounds to pass through into the ear canal for clear communication. Their attached filter stopper plugs can be inserted to achieve an even higher Noise Reduction Rating. These plugs help the flanged stem EP3s and EP4s provide a 24 dB NRR. The Comply® Canal foam tip-tipped EP10s deliver an impressive 28-dB NRR when their filter stopper plugs are in place.
The message here is simple: If you care about your hearing, wear ear protection. If you want the finest, most comfortable and reusable hearing protection without resorting to earmuffs or products that require batteries to work. Sonic Defenders deliver the features, performance and comfort to protect against hearing damage. That’s why they’re a top choice for everyone from tactical professionals to industrial workers.
For more information on the complete line of SureFire EarPro Sonic Defenders, visit SureFire.com.
